Can You Buy Standalone Photoshop?
Can you buy Standalone Photoshop?
Well, the short answer is no, you can't. Adobe, the company behind Photoshop, has moved away from offering software as a 'one off' purchase, and now offer all their products as a subscription-based service. This means, rather than paying a lump-sum for a piece of software, you pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee for access to their software, and the latest updates.
The move to subscription-based services has been met with mixed reactions. Some users bemoan the fact that they can no longer buy a product once and use it indefinitely.
Others are excited about the prospect of always having access to the latest software, without having to pay for a new version each time one is released.
Adobe's subscription service, called Creative Cloud, allows you to access their entire suite of products, including Photoshop, via your web browser.
You can also download desktop versions of the software if you'd like. With a Creative Cloud subscription, you get access to the latest features and updates as soon as they're released. Plus, you can use the software on up to two computers.
At first glance, the cost of Adobe's subscription service may seem high. But, when you consider the cost of buying each piece of software individualy, a subscription can actually save you money in the long run. Plus, with the subscription you get access to other Adobe products, such as Lightroom, Illustrator and Premiere Pro, which you may want to use in combination with Photoshop.
It's also worth noting that Adobe offer discounts to students, teachers and non-profits . So, if you fall into one of these groups you could get access to Adobe's suite of products for a reduced rate.
Conclusion
So, in conclusion, the answer no.
All Adobe products are now subscription-based, so if you want access to the latest version of Photoshop (plus the other Adobe products) you'll have to sign up for a Creative Cloud subscription. It may not be ideal, but the cost savings and access to the latest updates may make the subscription worthwhile.
